Hudson Hotel Rating: 3.5 Pearls

Midtown West, Manhattan, New York City

Chess playing at Library Bar

Boutique hotelier Ian Schrager opened the 807-room Hudson in 2000, on the heels of his successful New York ventures Morgan's and the Royalton. At the time of purchase, the building was owned by PBS, and its upper floors were rented out as college dorm rooms. (It was initially built as a Y.M.C.A. in the 1920s.) Schrager sent ripples through the hotel industry with his plans to create a cheap but ultra-stylish hotel -- unheard of in New York at the time -- that would, he said, be a "modern Y.M.C.A., an urban spa in the middle of the city."

When the hotel opened, it actually managed to live up to the hype. Celebrities flocked to Hudson Bar and the Library Bar, and the Hudson lobby became a place to be seen, even while guests paid $95 for cramped quarters upstairs.

But the Hudson's novelty has worn off a bit after nine years -- nothing this cheap can stay hot in Manhattan for too long. Still, the lobby and other public spaces remain visually stunning. Renowned designer Philippe Starck, who also designed Schrager's Delano hotel in Miami, covered the 40-foot-high ceiling in the dark, cavernous lobby with ivy, hanging an enormous chandelier above the front desk. (The hotel's lobby is actually on the second floor, accessed by a single escalator that leads up from the signless street entrance.)

Friendly bartender at Library Bar

It's never a good sign when the doorman avoids eye contact and makes no attempt to assist with bags. As countless reviewers on TripAdvisor and Yelp complain, the Hudson's staffers tend to act a little too cool to actually do their job. Though the Morgan's hotel group generally delivers at its high-priced boutiques, guests of the considerably more affordable, 807-room Hudson don't quite get the same attention. Expect to wait a bit longer for room service -- like 45 minutes for a toasted bagel. On the whole, though, service is generally competent, and simple requests -- including extra shampoo -- are addressed promptly.

View on a Larger Map

The Hudson is located on West 58th Street in Midtown West, between the dazzling marquees and crowds of the Theater District and the upscale apartments of the Upper West Side. It's an area that long ago was better known as Hell's Kitchen, but has transformed since the Time Warner Center -- basically a high-end mall with some of the city's best restaurants -- opened on the Hudson's corner. Now the area is teeming with high-end hotels -- 6 Columbus, the Mandarin Oriental, and Trump International Hotel & Tower -- and two of New York's most expensive restaurants, Per Se and Masa. Conveniently, there is also a massive Whole Foods organic supermarket located in the basement of the Time Warner Center.

The Superior Room

Originally a Y.M.C.A., turned dorm room turned hotel, the Hudson is most notable for its comically small rooms -- you're likely to bump your knees into the bathroom walls while sitting on the toilet. The hotel tries its best to spin this into something fun, and its website claims the inspiration for the rooms comes from a "private cabin on an upscale yacht." Management also claims on TripAdvisor that the hotel is meant to be "a college campus for adults."

But the truth remains -- the single rooms start at a mere 136 square feet, and are among the smallest rooms in New York City. The standard and "superior" rooms, the next steps up, come with either a double or a queen-size bed, but they don't get much bigger, at 144 to 167 square feet -- still smaller than most New York boutique hotel rooms. Even these rooms only have about 2 feet of space on either side of the bed and room for two chairs and a minimalist desk oddly placed at the foot of the bed. To get on par with an average New York boutique hotel room, you'll have to upgrade to the deluxe rooms (171 to 220 square feet). On the higest end, you can opt for a studio or loft suite (305 to 350 square feeet) or a one-bedroom suite (450 square feet). And if you're feeling flush, go for the big guy, the 1,500-square-foot penthouse with an outdoor terrace.

But for a still-stylish room that's newer, bigger, and often cheaper, check out 6 Columbus.

Once you get used to the size -- or at least figure out a way to store your bags without tripping on them -- the dark, wood-paneled rooms can feel cozy and stylish. They feature bedside lamps with whimsical images by artist Francesco Clemente and Louis XVI-style chairs with matching, riveted headboards. Modern comforts, like a large Sony flat-screen TV, an electronic safe, and a CD player (but no iPod dock), come standard in every room. Cold white bathrooms come with Agua toiletries -- some of the best high-end products available in New York.

The hotel's gym is located in the basement. It has a large selection of cardio equipment with personal video screens, as well as free weights and weight machines.

In addition to a business center with computers, printers, and fax machines, the Hudson has two floors of meeting rooms that can accommodate up to 500 people.

Wi-Fi and plug-in Internet are available in rooms for a fee.

Though close to Central Park, the Hudson is a party hotel at heart, particularly on weekends. Reviewers on TripAdvisor have complained about the hallways reeking of marijuana (just like a college dorm!), and it's not unheard of for people to make out in one of the lobby's many dark corners. Maybe not the best sight for young eyes. Plus, the limited (and pricey) food menus aren't ideal for young children.

Since navigating the dark lobby basically requires a headlamp, if there were any dust bunnies, I'd have no idea. The room wasn't exactly spotless -- there were makeup stains on one of the pillowcases and errant hairs floating around in the bathroom -- but after nine years without a substantial renovation, I'd say the rooms are aging very gracefully.

Bizarrely designed Hudson Hall

On its website the hotel says Hudson Hall is "inspired in equal parts by an Ivy League dining hall, eat-in kitchen, and 1940s automat." In other words, expect an open kitchen, pantries stocked with simple plates and glasses, and long, dark wood communal tables with only simple benches to sit on. (Guests most frequently compare it to Hogwarts Hogwarts).

A bizarre design element -- images of what look like children being engulfed by flames, believe it or not -- encircles the open kitchen.

The menu items range from about $15 to $25, and the food -- like the baked macaroni and cheese with a garlic herbed crust -- is popular and tasty. Cheaper, comparable food can definitely be found elsewhere in New York, but this isn't a bad option.

The Hudson Bar

When the Hudson opened back in 2000, it was an early player in the rising New York trend of hotels turning into the place to be. Celebrities flocked to Hudson Bar's illuminated dance floor and the more refined Library Bar (purple pool table notwithstanding). Now the scene is pretty tame, though the hotel still hosts plenty of events and packs nonguests in on the weekends. Celebs have generally moved on to newer, greener pastures further downtown at hotels like 60 Thompson and the Gansevoort.

During warmer months, the 15th-floor Sky Terrace -- a beautiful outdoor bar with tons of seating and heat lamps -- is a great place to enjoy a drink al fresco. The Private Park, located in the courtyard of the lobby and covered by a glass ceiling, is another very cool urban oasis.

In the basement of the Hudson is Good Units, a super chic, warehouse-style venue that opened in early 2010 for dancing and mingling. It was also designed to hold film screening, art shows, and fashion shows.